As First Nations groups and families continue to share stories in Prince George this week until Wednesday for the Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (MMIWG), some are calling for bigger change.
According to Carrier Sekani Family Services Executive Director Mary Teegee, a possible solution to avoid this issue would be to enact a Federal by-law to reduce violence against women and girls.
She believes if the United States government was able to pass one in the 1990s, so could Canada.
“It lays out what are some of the preventive measures that need to occur, the resources that need to go with those preventive measures, there’s key action items that need to be fulfilled, and there’s an accountability framework built right in.”
.@CarrierSekaniFS ED Mary Teegee says less indigenous women & girls would be subject to violence if a Federal act was introduced in #cdnpoli | #CityOfPG pic.twitter.com/NDXjGmWZ2t
— My Prince George Now (@mypgnow) February 5, 2018
She says resources specifically, local government support, as well as these family statements would be key factors in making this act.
Over the next three days, those stories will be heard before members of the MMIWG, more than 30 families already on the docket, and more is expected from walk-ins.
Teegee adds for those who’ve lost loved ones along Highway 16, also known as the Highway of Tears, speaking freely is a difficult time.
“There’s a lot of issues internally with the inquiry and we really don’t know why that is. The process itself is flawed and has weakened, but we still need to really support it because the ultimate goal is to listen to families, hear what the families are saying, and come up with something concrete to really lobby for that change.”
More than 1,200 people across the country have come forward already to share their stories.
For more information about the Prince George hearings, you can click here.
.@BCAFN Regional Chief Terry Teegee says it’s important for #CityOfPG First Nations & local groups to participate in #MMIWG National inquiry; “we need to create a society where our women aren’t so vulnerable.” pic.twitter.com/3NHc2Oojcd
— My Prince George Now (@mypgnow) February 5, 2018